Senior Environmental Permitting Scientist, CA (Hybrid)

GFT; Berkeley (CA); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Wellness programs

401(k) savings plan

Tuition reimbursement

Competitive PTO accrual

Professional development

Job summary

GFT seeks a Project Environmental Scientist to join its Environmental Practice in California. Hybrid work options are available with offices in Berkeley or Roseville.

You will lead permitting work, coordinate with agencies, and guide projects from planning to construction while delivering integrated solutions for transportation, water, and facilities sectors. The role requires 5–8 years of experience, strong regulatory knowledge, and excellent communication skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in environmental science, biology, ecology, the physical sciences, or closely related field.
• 5-8 years of progressively responsible experience delivering natural resources and permitting services for infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated experience preparing and managing environmental permits for projects in California.
• Strong working knowledge of applicable federal and California environmental regulations.
• Experience working with and developing relationships with regulatory agencies such as USACE, CDFW, RWQCB, USFWS and/or NOAA Fisheries.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Self-starter, able to complete tasks with minimal supervision and direction.
• Willingness to travel and execute work in a variety of settings and environmental conditions.
• Demonstrated leadership and interpersonal skills to work effectively with others and achieve results.
• Demonstrated agility working with multi-disciplined infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated professional judgment, consistency, strong attention to detail, and background of high‑quality work products.
• Ability to prepare and deliver presentations and lead meetings, when needed.
• An entrepreneurial mindset and interest in helping grow a developing California environmental practice.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support natural resource analysis and environmental permitting for transportation, water, and other infrastructure projects throughout California.
• Develop permitting strategies and identify federal, state, and local regulatory requirements during project planning, CEQA/NEPA and design.
• Prepare and manage permit applications and supporting technical documentation, including Clean Water Act Sections 404 and 401, California Fish and Game Code Section 1600 Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreements, and other applicable permits.
• Coordinate directly with regulatory agencies, including USACE, RWQCB, CDFW, USFWS, NOAA Fisheries, and others.
• Conduct wetland delineations, jurisdictional assessments, biological field studies, and other investigations for permitting and CEQA/NEPA.
• Author and review technical reports, CEQA/NEPA analyses, permit applications, mitigation plans, and related deliverables.
• Work with engineering/design teams to identify constraints and incorporate environmental requirements into project design and construction.
• Support environmental compliance during construction and tracking of permit conditions and commitments.
• Manage permitting assignments, including scope, schedule, budget, staffing, and client communications.
• Contribute to proposals, scopes of work, and cost estimates; help grow GFT’s California Environmental Practice.

Skills

Regulatory coordination

Technical reporting

CEQA/NEPA analysis

Client communication

Project leadership

Travel willingness

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in environmental science or related field

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

GIS experience

Job description

GFT seeks a Project Environmental Scientist to join its Environmental Practice in California. Hybrid work options are available with offices in Berkeley or Roseville.

You will lead permitting work, coordinate with agencies, and guide projects from planning to construction while delivering integrated solutions for transportation, water, and facilities sectors. The role requires 5–8 years of experience, strong regulatory knowledge, and excellent communication skills.